Redbud Audubon Society member airlifted after deck collapsed

CHICO -- "I think we better get off this deck," Tina Wasson said. It was one of the last things Roberta Lyons heard Saturday before the deck collapsed and sent about 20 people sliding off.

The incident happened at about?3:30 p.m.?at the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve after a meeting of the Northern California Chapter of Audubon California, Lyons said. Several members of the Lake County Redbud Audubon Society, including Lyons and Wasson, president, attended the meeting, after which the members gathered on the deck to take a group photo.

Lyons said she and Wasson were standing in the back row up on a bench.

"Next thing you know we all fell off," Lyons said.

She estimates the group fell 10-to-12 feet before the deck fell on an air conditioning unit below, after which the group slid off.

"If (the air conditioning unit) wasn't there, the deck would have tipped over everybody," Lyons said.

Lyons sustained a concussion and was transported via helicopter to the Enloe Medical Center in Chico. She was released Sunday afternoon.

Susanne?Scholz got 20 stitches in her foot, Lyons said. Adding that almost everyone had at least some scrapes or bruises and about a dozen received medical attention.

A total five people were taken to the hospital, one by air ambulance and four by ground, according to Butte County CAL FIRE.

"It could've been a lot worse, someone could have been killed," Lyons said.

Berenice?Quirino?is the assistant editor for Lake County Publishing. She can be reached at 263-5636, ext. 42 or at bereniceq@record-bee.com.